Patent application title: Touch Screen Input Method and Device

Abstract:

A touch panel 47 is constructed by a display/sensor unit 51a which is
slightly larger than a display screen of an LCD 46 and a sensor unit 51b
which is projected to the outside from one side, for example, from one
side on the right. A finger 52 of the user is touched to a selection item
such as desired button, icon, or the like on the display/sensor unit 51a
and vertically moved on the sensor unit 51b. A selection display 53
constructed by a plurality of buttons is displayed along the side of the
right side of the display screen by the LCD 46. A button beside the
finger 52 is highlighted and when the finger 52 is released, the
highlighted button is selected. If there are no buttons adjacent to the
finger 52, the button is not highlighted. Even if the finger 52 is
released, the state is not changed. When finger 52 is moved to the
display/sensor unit 51a, the selection display 53 disappears.

Claims:

1-8. (canceled)

9. A display system comprising: a first display having a display panel; a
second display having a display panel; and a controller, wherein the
controller controls display on each said first and second displays,
wherein said controller accepts an instruction from a user to perform one
of: a first process to display a first image, displayed on the first
display, onto said second display, a second process to display a second
image, displayed on said second display, onto said first display, and a
third process to exchange images displayed on said first and second
displays.

10. The display system according to claim 9, wherein an instruction,
according to a touching position of a finger or a touch pen, is given
onto said second display.

11. The display system according to claim 9, wherein said first process,
said second process, and said third process each correspond to a button
displayed on said second display, wherein each process is performed based
on the user's instruction.

12. The display system according to claim 9, wherein said first process,
said second process, and said third process each correspond to a movement
of a finger or a touch pen, and wherein each process is performed based
on the user's touch and movement.

13. The display system according to claim 9, wherein said first process,
said second process, and said third process each correspond to a touch
instruction according to a touching position of a finger or a touch pen
onto said second display, and wherein each process is performed based on
the user's touch instruction.

14. A controller comprising: a communication section to communicate with
a first display and a second display, the controller selects one of:
sending a first image signal from the first display to the second
display; sending a second image signal from the second display to the
first display, and exchanging image signals between the first and second
displays.

15. The controller according to claim 14, wherein the controller receives
image date from one or more external connections.

16. The controller according to claim 14, wherein the controller receives
image data from an internet source.

17. An information process apparatus, comprising: a display section, a
sensor section on the display section that accepts a user's instruction
according to a touching position of a finger or a pen onto said sensor
section, an image controlling section that generates a control signal
according to the instruction from the user, and a communication section
that sends an image signal displayed on said display section to an
external device based on a first instruction from the user, wherein said
image controlling section displays an image from the external device onto
said display section based on a second instruction from the user.

18. The information processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein
said image controlling section exchanges image signals between the image
displayed on said display section and an image displayed on the external
device, based on a third instruction from said user.

19. The information processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein
said sensor section accepts said first instruction when a finger or pen
moves in a first direction on said display section, and accepts said
second instruction when the finger or pen moves in a second direction on
said display section, wherein said first direction and second direction
are in opposite directions to each other.

Description:

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to an input apparatus with a construction in
which a touch panel is attached onto a screen of a display such as a
liquid crystal or the like and to an input method using such a kind of
input apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Hitherto, as a digital broadcast receiver, construction in which an
auxiliary input/output apparatus having a small display is provided
separately from a display main body having a large screen and the display
main body and the auxiliary input/output apparatus are connected in a
wireless manner has been disclosed in JP-A-2001-2030908. According to the
apparatus disclosed in JP-A-2001-2030908, the auxiliary input/output
apparatus has a construction in which a touch panel is attached onto the
screen, an electronic program table is displayed on the auxiliary
input/output apparatus, and the operation to select a desired program or
reserve the recording of the desired program is executed through the
touch panel of the auxiliary input/output apparatus.

[0003] However, in a system having the two displays as disclosed in
JP-A-2001-2030908, in the case where the auxiliary input/output apparatus
has the construction of the touch panel, when broadcast contents,
Internet contents, or the like is selected and monitored by the operation
of the touch panel, the operations of two stages are necessary. That is,
when the user selects desired contents, first, he enters a menu display
mode or executes the operation corresponding to the operation for
entering the menu display mode and, thereafter, he selects a source to be
monitored from the menu. In this manner, the operations of two stages are
necessary until the target reaches the desired contents.

[0004] It is, therefore, an object of the invention to an input method and
an input apparatus in which in the case of inputting by using a touch
panel, the operation to display a menu and the operation to select a
source to be monitored from the displayed menu can be executed at a time
and the operability is improved.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0005] To solve the above problems, according to the invention of claim 1,
there is provided an input method using an input apparatus in which a
touch panel is laminated onto a display screen of a display apparatus, a
sensor unit is formed so as to be expanded to the outside of one side of
the display screen, an instruction according to a touching position of a
finger or a touch pen onto the sensor unit is given, and a controller
generates a control signal on the basis of the instruction, comprising
the steps of: displaying a selection display comprising a plurality of
selection items along the side of the display screen when the finger or
the touch pen is touched to the sensor unit; instructing one of the
selection items when the finger or the touch pen is moved along the side
on the sensor unit; and instructing selection of the instructed selection
item when the finger or the touch pen is released from the sensor unit.

[0006] According to the invention of claim 5, there is provided an input
apparatus in which a touch panel is laminated onto a display screen of a
display apparatus, comprising: a sensor unit formed so as to be expanded
to the outside of one side of the display screen; and a controller to
which an instruction according to a touching position of a finger or a
touch pen onto the sensor unit is given and which generates a control
signal on the basis of the instruction, wherein the controller controls
the display apparatus in such a manner that a selection display
comprising a plurality of selection items is displayed along the side of
the display screen when the finger or the touch pen is touched to the
sensor unit and one of the selection items is instructed when the finger
or the touch pen is moved along the side on the sensor unit, and the
controller generates the control signal to instruct selection of the
instructed selection item when the finger or the touch pen is released
from the sensor unit.

[0007] According to the invention, by displaying the selection display,
for example, a menu by the touch and releasing the finger or the touch
pen from the sensor unit, one selection item, for example, a source can
be selected. The display of the menu and the selection can be executed by
one touching and releasing operation and the operability can be improved.
Since the selection display is displayed along the side near the sensor
unit, the items which are instructed can be easily seen and a situation
that the display screen cannot be easily seen because of the selection
display can be avoided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system construction of an
embodiment of the invention.

[0009] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a more detailed construction of
the embodiment of the invention.

[0010] FIGS. 3A to 3C are schematic diagrams for use in explanation of the
embodiment of the invention.

[0011] FIG. 4 is a flowchart for use in explanation of the embodiment of
the invention.

[0012] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a more specific display
example of the embodiment of the invention.

[0013] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a display example
corresponding to a menu selected by a menu display.

[0014] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a display example
corresponding to a menu selected by the menu display.

[0015] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a display example
corresponding to a menu selected by the menu display.

[0016] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a display example
corresponding to a menu selected by the menu display.

[0017] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a display example
corresponding to a menu selected by the menu display.

[0018] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a display example
corresponding to a menu selected by the menu display.

[0019] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a display example
corresponding to a menu selected by the menu display.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0020] An embodiment of the invention will be described hereinbelow with
reference to the drawings.

[0021] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a whole display system to
which the invention is applied; 2 indicates a first display unit
(hereinafter, properly referred to as a primary display) having a large
display panel such as PDP (Plasma Display Panel), LCD (Liquid Crystal
Display), or the like; and 3 a small secondary display (hereinafter,
properly referred to as a secondary display). The secondary display 3 has
a construction in which a touch panel is laminated onto a small LCD of,
for example, 7 inches, is put on a pedestal 4, and can be carried by the
user as necessary.

[0022] A video signal to be displayed is supplied to the primary display 2
through a media receiver 5. The video signal is a broadcast signal or
streaming data which is distributed through the Internet. The broadcast
signal is received by an antenna 6, the streaming data is branched by a
switch 7, and they are supplied to the media receiver 5 through a LAN
(Local Area Network). A personal computer 8 is connected to another
branch of the switch 7.

[0023] The streaming data distributed through Internet 10 is inputted to a
WAN (Wide Area Network) side of a MODEM (modulator-demodulator) of an
ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line). The switch 7 is connected to
the LAN side of a MODEM 9. The ADSL is an example of broadband
connection. As another method, video contents can be received through
broadband connection using a CATV (cable television), an FTTH (Fiber To
The Home), or the like. Ordinarily, the video contents is associated with
audio data.

[0024] The media receiver 5 has two tuners to supply the reception signal
to each of the primary display 2 and the secondary display 3. The media
receiver 5 can transmit the video signal to the secondary display 3
through an access point 11 of a wireless LAN. Control data such as a
remocon (remote control) signal or the like can be transmitted to the
access point 11 from the secondary display 3 and bidirectional
communication can be made. For example, a wireless system of IEEE
(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11 can be used
and the standard of, for example, 802.11a in such a wireless system can
be used. This standard uses a frequency of 5.2 GHz and can realize a
transmission speed of maximum 54 Mbps.

[0025] FIG. 2 shows, in more detail, a construction of an example of the
display system comprising the primary display 2 and the secondary display
3. The primary display 2 has a relatively large display panel 21 of, for
example, 30 inches or more and its driving unit (not shown).

[0026] A main tuner 22a and a subtuner 22b each for receiving a
terrestrial wave are included in the media receiver 5. Reference numeral
23 denotes a digital tuner for receiving BS (Broadcasting Satellite) and
110° CS (Communication Satellite). Although not shown, outputs of
UHF/VHF antennas are supplied to the tuners 22a and 22b and an output of
a parabolic antenna for receiving BS/110° CS is supplied to the
digital tuner 23. In the embodiment, the main tuner 22a is used for the
primary display 2 and the subtuner 22b is used for the secondary display
3.

[0027] The video signals of the main tuner 22a and the subtuner 22b are
supplied to an AV switch 24. An output video signal of the AV switch 24
is inputted to an image processing unit 25 and a signal processing unit
32. The image processing unit 25 executes image processes for improving
picture quality such as a process to further raise resolution and the
like.

[0028] An output signal of the image processing unit 25 is inputted to the
display panel 21 of the primary display 2 through a DVI (Digital Visual
Interface) 26 as a display interface. Although not shown, a picture
quality adjusting circuit of the display panel 21 is provided at the
front stage of the DVI 26. Further, in the case of supplying the digital
video signal to the display panel 21, a copy prevention signal to prevent
an illegal copy of the broadcast contents is also outputted. For example,
HDCP (High bandwith Digital Content Protection) can be used.

[0029] An output signal of the digital tuner 23 is inputted to a video
decoder 27. For example, decoding by MPEG2 (Moving Picture Experts Group
Phase 2) is executed by the video decoder 27. An HD (High Definition)
video signal from the video decoder 27 is supplied to the image
processing unit 25 and inputted to the display panel 21 through the DVI
26.

[0030] The video decoder 27 has a function for outputting an SD (Standard
Definition) video signal, for example, 480I (interlace signal in which
the number of lines is equal to 480) to the signal processing unit 32.
Reference numeral 28 denotes a system controller for controlling the
operations of the primary display 2 and the media receiver 5 and the
controller 28 is constructed by a CPU (Central Processing Unit). For
example, the system controller 28 controls station selecting states of
the main tuner 22a and the subtuner 22b.

[0031] The streaming data and the data of Homepage which were received
through the Internet are supplied to the signal processing unit 32
through a LAN 31. In the signal processing unit 32, two DSPs (Digital
Signal Processors) 33 and 34 are connected to a bus such as PCI
(Peripheral Component Interconnect) 35 and a controller 36 comprising a
CPU is connected to the PCI 35 through a bridge 37.

[0032] The signal processing unit 32 decodes the inputted streaming data.
The decoded video signal is supplied to the image processing unit 25 and
displayed by the primary display 2. Therefore, the broadcast signal from
each of the main tuner 22a and the digital tuner 23 can be displayed on
the primary display 2 and the contents received through the Internet can
also be displayed.

[0033] The signal processing unit 32 encrypts the video signals from the
subtuner 22b and the digital tuner 23, further, converts the encrypted
video signals into a format in which they can be transmitted in a
wireless manner, and sends the converted signals to the secondary display
3 through the access point 11. The contents such as streaming data
received through the Internet and the like are sent to the secondary
display 3 through the access point 11 without being decoded. On the other
hand, the signal processing unit 32 processes the control signal such as
a remocon signal or the like from the secondary display 3 which was
received by the access point 11 and sends it to the system controller 28.

[0034] The secondary display 3 has a transceiver 41 for making wireless
communication with the access point 11. A signal processing unit 42 is
connected to the transceiver 41. In the signal processing unit 42, a
system controller 43 to control the operation of the secondary display 3
and a DSP 44 are connected through PCI 45.

[0035] A display panel, for example, an LCD 46, a transparent touch panel
47 laminated on the display screen of the LCD 46, a speaker 48, and a
memory card 49 are connected to the signal processing unit 42. Further, a
battery 50 as a power source is provided. The battery 50 is enclosed in
for example, the pedestal (refer to FIG. 1). The signal processing unit
42 decodes the encrypted video signal received from the access point 11,
decodes the data received through the Internet, and displays the decoded
signal onto the LCD 46. Further, the signal processing unit 42 transmits
a remocon signal, a command, or the like generated by the operation of
the touch panel 47 to the primary display 2 side. Moreover, the signal
processing unit 42 has a function for decoding still image data stored in
the memory card 49 and displaying it onto the LCD 46.

[0036] The operation of the foregoing display system according to the
embodiment of the invention will be described hereinbelow. The analog
video signal of a base band demodulated by the main tuner 22a is
converted into a digital signal, subjected to the picture quality
improving process by the image processing unit 25, subjected to an
interlace/progressive converting process, and thereafter, outputted to
the display panel 21 through the DVI 26.

[0037] A base band analog signal demodulated by the subtuner 22b is
supplied to the signal processing unit 32, converted into a digital
signal, and thereafter, compressed in a digital compression format such
as MPEG2, MPEG4, or the like. The compressed video signal is subjected to
an encrypting process and, thereafter, transmitted to the secondary
display 3 through the access point 11 by the wireless LAN. The signal is
subjected to a process for decrypting the encryption and a decompressing
process by the signal processing unit 42 of the secondary display 3 and
displayed by the LCD 46.

[0038] In the case where the input source is a digital broadcast signal,
the digital broadcast signal is inputted to the digital tuner 23 and
demodulated by a digital front-end block of the digital tuner 23. After
that, the digital video signal is decoded by the video decoder 27. The
digital video signal is displayed onto the display panel 21 through the
image processing unit 25 and the DVI 26.

[0039] The SD signal, for example the video signal of 480I which is
outputted from the video decoder 27 is sent to the signal processing unit
32, compressed in a digital compression format and encrypted by the
signal processing unit 32. The resultant signal is transmitted to the
secondary display 3 from the access point 11 of the wireless LAN. In the
case where the input source is the HD signal, it is down-converted into
the SD signal, for example the video signal of 480I and, thereafter, sent
to the signal processing unit 32. The down-conversion is a process for
protection of a copyright of the digital broadcast contents.

[0040] In the case where the input source is the streaming contents from
the Internet, the signal inputted from the LAN 31 is subjected to a
streaming decoding process in the signal processing unit 32 in accordance
with the streaming compression format and sent to the display panel 21
through the image processing unit 25 and the DVI 26.

[0041] In the case of displaying the streaming contents onto the secondary
display 3, it is not subjected to the decoding process in the signal
processing unit 32 but is transmitted to the secondary display 3 by the
wireless LAN while keeping the state where it has been compressed by the
streaming compression format. The decoding process of the streaming
compression is executed by the signal processing unit 42 of the secondary
display 3, the decoded video image is displayed by the LCD 46, and the
decoded audio sound is reproduced by the speaker 48.

[0042] In the foregoing display system, the invention intends to improve
the station selecting operation of the broadcasting and a GUI (Graphical
User Interface) at the time of selecting the contents of the Internet.
That is, hitherto, in the case of operating the touch panel, when the
user selects the desired contents, first, he enters the menu display mode
or executes the operation corresponding to such an operation and,
thereafter, he further selects the source to be monitored from the menu.
In this manner, the operations of two stages are certainly necessary
until the target reaches the desired contents. By improving such a
drawback, those operations can be realized by the touching and releasing
operation, that is, one operation.

[0043] An outline of the embodiment of the invention will now be described
with reference to FIGS. 3A to 3C and 4. FIG. 3A shows the touch panel 47
laminated on the LCD 46 of the secondary display 3. Since the touch panel
47 is transparent, the display image on the LCD 46 can be seen through
the touch panel 47. As a specific structure of the touch panel 47, either
a pressure sensitive type in which the position where a contact pressure
has been applied is detected or an electrostatic type in which the
contact is detected as a change in electrostatic capacitance can be used.
Further, a touch panel of an infrared detection system in which a number
of sensors comprising infrared light emitting diodes and phototransistors
are provided can be also used.

[0044] Ordinarily, a size of touch panel 47 is almost equal to that of the
display screen of the LCD 46. In the embodiment, the size of touch panel
47 is larger than that of the display screen of the LCD 46. In the
examples of FIGS. 3A to 3C, the touch panel 47 comprises a display/sensor
unit 51a which is slightly larger than the display screen of the LCD 46;
and a sensor unit 51b which is projected to the outside from one side,
for example, from one side on the right. A finger 52 of the user (a
rod-shaped touch pen can be also used in place of the finger) is touched
to a selection item (item to be selected) such as desired button, icon,
or the like on the display/sensor unit 51a and vertically moved on the
sensor unit 51b.

[0045] A selection display 53 comprising a plurality of selection items,
for example, first to fifth buttons is displayed along the side of the
right side of the display screen by the LCD 46 in accordance with the
operation of the touch panel 47. In the embodiment, a plurality of
selection displays 53 are displayed in the vertical direction in parallel
with the sensor device portion 51b.

[0046] As a construction of the touch panel 47, construction other than
that mentioned above can be used. For example, it is also possible to
construct in such a manner that the sensor unit is provided on the
outside of another side (left side, upper side, or lower side) of the
display screen of the LCD 46 and a selection display in which a plurality
of selection items are arranged is displayed along such another side by
the LCD 46. A belt-shaped touch panel can be also partially provided
along one side of the display screen.

[0047] Since the sensor unit 51b is provided on the outside of the display
screen, a situation that the display screen cannot be easily seen due to
the dirt by repetitively operating the sensor unit 51b can be avoided.
Since the selection display 53 is displayed at the end of the display
screen along the side where the sensor unit 51b is provided, a degree at
which the display image on the LCD 46 cannot be easily seen because of
the selection display 53 can be reduced.

[0048] In a flowchart shown in FIG. 4, the sensor unit 51b is touched with
the finger 52 in step S1. Thus, the selection display 53 is displayed on
the display screen as shown in FIG. 3A.

[0049] In step S2, when the finger 52 is vertically moved while keeping
the state where the finger is touched onto the sensor unit 51b, the
button in the position of the same height as that of the finger is
instructed and highlighted. The "highlight" denotes a display in which
the instructed button can be visually identified, that is, the luminance,
color, reversal indication, flickering, or the like is made different. In
FIG. 3A, the third button is highlighted.

[0050] In step S3, when the finger 52 is released from the sensor unit 51b
in the state where the third button is highlighted, the third button is
selected. That is, the operation to display the selection display 53 and
the operation to select a desired selection item in the selection display
53 can be executed by one touching and releasing operation. Since the
third button is selected, a display screen of a lower layer corresponding
to the third button is displayed by the LCD 46.

[0051] In the case where although the position of the finger 52 is on the
sensor unit 51b, there is no button beside the finger as shown in FIG.
3B, the button is not highlighted. That is, when the finger is touched to
the upper or lower area out of the range where the five buttons are
arranged, since there are no neighboring buttons, every button is not
highlighted. Step S4 shows the case where the finger is released from the
sensor unit 51b in this state. In this case, it is judged that the
selecting operation has been cancelled, the processing routine is
finished, and therefore, the state does not change and the display of the
selection display 53 is continued.

[0052] Further, when the finger 52 is moved to the display/sensor unit 51a
as shown in FIG. 3C, it is judged that the selecting operation has been
cancelled, the processing routine is finished, and the display of the
selection display 53 disappears. In this case, even if the finger 52 is
released, the state is not changed.

[0053] A more specific example of the foregoing embodiment will now be
described. FIG. 5 shows a selection display, for example, a menu display
54 which is displayed when the finger 52 is touched to the sensor unit
51b of the right side of the touch panel 47. When the finger 52 is
vertically moved while keeping the state where it is touched to the
sensor unit 51b, only the menu item of almost the same height as that of
the finger 52 is highlighted. FIG. 5 shows the state where a channel list
of the menu item is highlighted.

[0054] When the finger 52 is released at the position of the highlighted
menu item, this menu item is selected. A display screen of a lower layer
corresponding to the selected menu item is displayed. Although not shown
in FIG. 5, when the menu display 54 is displayed, the image of the LCD 46
of the secondary display 3 is displayed on the display/sensor unit 51a of
the touch panel 47.

[0055] FIG. 6 shows an example of a display 55 in the case where a menu
item of "television channel list" is selected. Channels of the
terrestrial wave, BS, CS, and inputs (Video 1 to Video 4) are displayed
on the LCD 46. A desired channel can be selected by the display/sensor
unit 51a of the touch panel 47. The channel list of FIG. 6 is a display
of the list showing, for example, the items which are displayed on the
primary display 2.

[0056] FIG. 7 shows an example of a display 56 in the case where a menu
item of "channel list" is selected. It shows a list of the contents which
can be received by the secondary display 3. In addition to the channels
of the television and the video inputs shown in FIG. 6, channels of news
and the like which are received through the Internet are displayed on the
LCD 46. A desired channel can be selected by the display/sensor unit 51a
of the touch panel 47.

[0057] FIG. 8 shows an example, of a display 57 in the case where a menu
item of "TV remocon" is selected. Buttons for remocon (remote control)
are displayed on the display screen of the LCD 46. By pressing a desired
button in the display/sensor unit 51a of the touch panel 47, the primary
display 2 and the media receiver 5 can be controlled. The buttons for
remocon are buttons for ten-key, increase/decrease in sound volume,
channel switching, and the like.

[0058] FIG. 9 shows an example of a display 58 in the case where a menu
item of "memory stick (registered trade name)" is selected. Thumbnails of
still images recorded in the memory card 49 are displayed on the display
screen of the LCD 46. Nine thumbnails can be displayed at once. The
thumbnails which are displayed can be switched by vertically scrolling.

[0059] FIG. 10 shows an example of a display 59 in the case where a menu
item of "Internet" is selected. A list of titles and addresses of
Homepages registered as "favorites" is displayed on the display screen of
the LCD 46. A column to input words or phrases for searching is
displayed. Further, other buttons necessary to access a site through the
Internet are displayed. Browsing of Homepage is ordinarily performed on
the secondary display 3.

[0060] FIG. 11 shows an example of a display 60 in the case where a menu
item of "setup" is selected. This display 60 is displayed to set the
terrestrial channel. FIG. 12 shows an example of a display 61 in the case
where a menu of "setup" is selected. When the menu of the setup is
selected, the displays 60 and 61 are used and the states of the primary
display 2 and the media receiver 5 are set.

[0061] In FIG. 12, buttons of the operations of "slow", "swap", and
"catch" are displayed on the lower side of the display 61. "Slow" is a
process for displaying the same image as that displayed on the secondary
display 3 onto the primary display 2. "Swap" is a process for exchanging
the display of the primary display 2 for the display of the secondary
display 3. "Catch" is a process for displaying the same image as that
displayed on the primary display 2 onto the secondary display 3.

[0062] Commands for executing such processes can be generated by the
operation to move the finger 52 from the bottom to the top on the touch
panel 47 (in the case of "slow") or the operation to move the finger 52
from the top to the bottom (in the case of "catch") besides the operation
to touch onto the buttons mentioned above. Such a changing process of the
display image can be realized by transmitting the commands from the
secondary display 3 to the primary display 2 side and controlling the
main tuner 22a and the subtuner 22b by the system controller 28. By the
control of the tuners, it is possible to execute the operation which
gives an impression as if the image were bidirectionally transmitted and
received between the display panel 21 of the primary display 2 and the
LCD 46 of the secondary display 3.

[0063] The invention is not limited to the embodiment or the like of the
invention as mentioned above but various modifications and applications
are possible within the scope without departing from the essence of the
invention. For example, the invention can be applied to a television
apparatus having one display or the like besides the system having the
primary display 2 and the secondary display 3.